#TDA25 Awards: Meet the Finalists

After evaluating a record number of entries, TheStadiumBusiness is delighted to unveil the shortlisted finalists for the seventh annual Design & Development Awards (#TDA25).

Since 2017 these awards have recognised the best in venue design, development, construction and refurbishment across the global sports and entertainment sector.

Congratulations to the 2025 finalists in each of this year’s Categories:

DESTINATION AWARD

This award recognises the ‘sense of place’ for a sports or entertainment venue. Where have landscaping, access, wayfinding, theming and branding been integrated to create a complete destination within a venue’s locality?

Our 2025 shortlisted finalists are:

• • Claro Arena
  • Fulham FC’s Riverside Stand
  • Kai Tak Sports Park
  • Kunshan Olympic Sports Center
  • Nagasaki Stadium City
  • Roig Arena

FAÇADE & EXTERIOR AWARD

This award highlights the most visually striking element of any venue: the façade, cladding or exterior wrap. Alongside the visual impact and uniqueness of design, the judging will also take into consideration serviceability, sustainability, durability, and cost-efficiency.

Our 2025 shortlisted finalists are:

• • Claro Arena (Universidad Católica), Chile
  • Hill Dickinson Stadium (Everton FC), UK
  • Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong
  • Roig Arena (Valencia Basket), Spain
  • SAP Garden, Germany
  • UK Pavilion – Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan

INDUSTRY PARTNER AWARD

Awarded to the architect, design, engineering, or professional services firm that has provided consistently outstanding service to venue design and delivery.

Our 2025 shortlisted finalists are:

• • 20.20
  • City Facilities Management HKG
  • Dawnvale Group
  • Fenwick Iribarren Architects (FI-A)
  • gmp – von Gerkan, Marg and Partners Architects
  • MolcaWorld S.L.U.

AV FAN EXPERIENCE AWARD

Recognising the best use of integrated audio, video, display, digital sensor and/or control technology within or around a venue to engage fans and enhance their experience of an event or attraction.

Our 2025 shortlisted finalists are:

• • AI Stadium (Suwon kt wiz Park)
  • Grand Prix Plaza (Las Vegas GP)
  • New Bernabéu experience (CF Real Madrid)
  • Rocket Booster centre-hung scoreboard (Houston Rockets)
  • Roig Arena (Valencia Basket)
  • The Cube (SM Mall of Asia Arena)
  • The Terrace (Brighton & Hove Albion FC)

CONCOURSE ACTIVATION AWARD

For too long our General Admission (GA) spaces have been overlooked or underserved. This new award celebrates the project which has elevated the beating heart of any entertainment venue – its concourse – to a new level. Who’s put the ‘woohay’ into GA?

Our 2025 shortlisted finalists are:

• • Box 2 Box (Birmingham City FC)
  • Flock Friendly at M&T Bank Stadium (Baltimore Ravens)
  • Grab & Glide Bar (Motorpoint Arena)
  • Peace Stadium connected by SoftBank (V-Varen Nagasaki FC)
  • Riverside Market and Boardwalk (Fulham FC)
  • Stadium of Light enhancements (Sunderland AFC)

COMMUNITY PROJECT AWARD

Recognising the design and delivery of a community-focused facility project in sports and entertainment.

Our 2025 shortlisted finalists are:

• • Alexander Stadium/Perry Park (Birmingham CG2022)
  • Centre Slush Puppie (Ville de Gatineau)
  • Community Sport for All / Playfield 5 (Kai Tak Sports Park)
  • Community, Re-use and Reconfiguration (Education City Stadium)
  • Olympic Aquatics Centre reconfiguration (Paris 2024)
  • RCD Mallorca Sport Clinic
  • Sydney Swans HQ

INNOVATION AWARD

Awarded to an organisation or product that has demonstrated genuine, industry-changing innovation. Consideration is given to step-change improvements in the following areas: sustainability, materials utilisation, ease of application, speed of construction, and cost savings.

Our 2025 shortlisted finalists are:

• • Avicii Arena modernisation
  • Digital Venue Canvas (Poet Creator/Roig Arena)
  • Dual Rise Single Frame grandstand (SAP Garden)
  • Modular NEON at Battersea Power Station
  • Upcycled façade for Stade de La Meinau (RC Strasbourg)

HOSPITALITY & PREMIUM AWARD

Recognising the best in design for a hospitality, VIP, sponsor or premium space within a venue. Consideration is given to design innovation, function, sustainability, purpose, and overall ‘wow’ factor. 

Our 2025 shortlisted finalists are:

• • Courtside lounge seats (Capital One Arena)
  • Electric Lounge & Acoustic Lounge (Utilita Arena)
  • Estádio José Alvalade 2.0 (Sporting Clube de Portugal)
  • Fulham FC’s Riverside Stand
  • Integrated Hotel, Spa & Hospitality (Nagasaki Peace Stadium)
  • North Coast Social at Progressive Field (Cleveland Guardians)
  • Villa Park’s new premium spaces (Aston Villa)

SUSTAINABILITY DELIVERED AWARD

Our Sustainability Delivered Award recognises projects that aim to be future-proof, but which have also been designed and delivered to reduce a venue’s overall impact on the environment in an exceptional way. 

Our 2025 shortlisted finalists are:

• • Australian Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka
  • Bustardthorpe Development (York Racecourse)
  • Claro Arena: Sustainability from Design to Operation
  • Smart Restroom Technology at State Farm Arena (Atlanta Hawks)
  • Solar install at Joie Stadium (City Football Academy)
  • Sustainability Built In (Co-op Live)

PROJECT OF THE YEAR

For a completed new-build – or expansion, modernisation or major capital enhancement project of an existing venue – that has delivered on all its goals and more.

Our 2025 shortlisted entries are:

• • Avicii Arena, Stockholm
  • Estadio La Cartuja, Seville
  • Fulham FC’s Riverside Stand, London
  • Hill Dickinson Stadium (Everton FC), Merseyside
  • Kai Tak Sports Park, Hong Kong
  • Nagasaki Stadium City, Nagasaki
  • Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah, Rabat

Congratulations to every project, team and endeavour that made the shortlists – your work has been recognised globally! Good luck everyone!

What’s Next?

• • The Press Kit will be sent to all those parties on the shortlists.
  • Supporting evidence will be invited before the full Awards Briefing & Dossier is handed over to our 2025 Judging Panel.
  • Representatives of all shortlisted entries will be invited as our guests to the Awards Presentation and Winners Party on the evening of 10 December during our 14th annual TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Summit at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester.

More background on TheStadiumBusiness Design & Development Awards here.

Thanks to everybody who put in Nominations. Even if your entry didn’t make this year’s shortlist, your efforts have done some good. Through our Donations for Nominations programme you have helped raise over £1,000 to our charity partner EMERGENCY.

If you’re on the shortlists, then we’ll be in touch very soon.